University of Virginia Library

SCENE, A Prison.
Enter Almeria and an Indian they speak entring.
Ind.
A dangerous proof of my respect I show.

Alm.
Fear not, Prince Guyomar shall never know:
While he is absent let us not delay;
Remember 'tis the King thou doest obey.

Ind.
See where he sleeps.

[Cortez appears Chain'd and laid asleep.
Alm.
—Without my coming wait:
And on thy Life secure the Prison Gate.—
[She plucks out a Dagger and approaches him.
Spaniard awake: thy Fatal hour is come:
Thou shalt not at such ease receive thy Doom.
Revenge is sure, though sometimes slowly pac'd,
Awake, awake, or sleeping sleep thy last.

Cort.
Who names Revenge?

Alm.
—Look up and thou shalt see.

Cort.
I cannot fear so fair an Enemy.

Alm.
No aid is near, nor canst thou make defence:
Whence can thy Courage come?

Cort.
—From Innocence.

Alm.
From Innocence? let that then take thy part,
Still are thy looks assur'd,—have at thy Heart:
[Hold up the Dagger.
I cannot kill thee; sure thou bear'st some Charm,
[Goes back.
Or some Divinity holds back my Arm.
Why do I thus delay to make him Bleed,
[Aside.
Can I want Courage for so brave a Deed?
I've shook it off; my Soul is free from fear,
[Comes again.
And I can now strike any where,—but here:
His scorn of Death how strangely does it move!
A mind so haughty who could chuse but Love!
[Goes off.
Plead not a Charm, or any gods command,
Alas, it is thy heart that holds thy hand:
In spight of me I Love, and see too late
My Mothers Pride must find my Mothers Fate:
—Thy Country's Foe, thy Brother's Murtherer,
For shame, Almeria, such mad thoughts forbear:
I w'onnot be if I once more come on,
[coming on again.
I shall mistake the Breast, and pierce my own.

[Comes with her Dagger down.
Cort.
Does your revenge maliciously forbear
To give me Death, till 'tis prepar'd by fear?
If you delay for that, forbear or strike,
Fore-seen and sudden death are both alike.

Alm.
To show my Love would but increase his Pride:
They have most power who most their passions hide.
[Aside.
Spaniard, I must confess I did expect
You could not meet your Death with such neglect;
I will defer it now, and give you time:
You may Repent, and I forget your Crime.

Cort.
Those who repent acknowledge they did ill:
I did not unprovok'd your Brother Kill.

Alm.
Petition me, perhaps I may forgive.

Cort.
Who begs his Life does not deserve to Live.

Alm.
But if 'tis given you'l not refuse to take?

Cort.
I can Live gladly for Cydaria's sake.

Alm.
Does she so wholy then possess your mind?
What if you should another Lady find,
Equal to her in birth, and far above
In all that can attract, or keep your Love,
Would you so doat upon your first desire
As not to entertain a Nobler Fire?

Cort.
I think that person hardly will be found,
With Gracious form and equal Vertue Crown'd:
Yet if another could precedence claim,
My fixt desires could find no fairer Aim.

Alm.
Dull ignorance, he cannot yet conceive:
To speak more plain shame will not give me leave.
[Aside.
—Suppose one lov'd you whom even Kings adore:
[To him
Who with your Life, your Freedom would restore,
And adde to that the Crown of Mexico:
Would you for her, Cydaria's Love fore-go?

Cort.
Though she could offer all you can invent,
I could not of my Faith, once vow'd repent.

Alm.
A burning blush has cover'd all my face:
Why am I forc'd to publish my disgrace?
What if I Love, you know it cannot be,
And yet I blush to put the case 'twere me.
If I could Love you, with a flame so true
I could forget what hand my Brother slew?—
—Make out the rest,—I am disorder'd so
I know not farther what to say or do:
—But answer me to what you think I meant.

Cort.
Reason or Wit no answer can invent:
Of words confus'd who can the meaning find?

Alm.
Disordered words show a distemper'd mind.

Cort.
She has oblig'd me so, that could I chuse,
I would not answer what I must refuse.

[Aside.
Alm.
—His mind is shook;—suppose I lov'd you, speak,
Would you for me Cydaria's Fetters break?

Cort.
Things meant in Jest, no serious answer need.

Alm.
But put the case that it were so indeed.

Cort.
If it were so, which but to think were Pride,
My constant Love would dangerously be try'd:
For since you could a Brothers death forgive,
He whom you save for you alone should live:
But I the most unhappy of mankind,
E're I knew yours, have all my Love resign'd:
'Tis my own loss I grieve, who have no more;
You go a begging to a Bankrupts door.
Yet could I change, as sure I never can,
How could you Love so Infamous a Man?
For Love once given from her, and plac'd in you,
Would leave no ground I ever could be true.

Alm.
You construed me aright,—I was in Jest:
And by that offer meant to sound your breast;
Which since I find so constant to your Love,
Will much my value of your worth improve.
Spaniard assure your self you shall not be
Oblig'd to quit Cydaria for me:
'Tis dangerous though, to treat me in this sort,
And to refuse my offers, though in sport.
Exit Almeria.

Cort.
In what a strange Condition am I left,
Cort. solus.
More then I wish I have, of all I wish bereft!
In wishing nothing we enjoy still most;
For even our wish is, in possession lost:
Restless we wander to a new desire,
And burn our selves by blowing of the Fire:
We toss and turn about our Feaverish will,
When all our ease must come by lying still:
For all the happiness Mankind can gain
Is not in pleasure, but in rest from pain.

Goes in and the Scene closes upon him.